Because RSV can spread easily by touching infected people or surfaces, washing hands well and often can help stop it. Wash your hands after being around someone who has cold symptoms.
And school-age kids who have a cold should keep away from younger siblings — especially babies — until their symptoms end. The protection it gives doesn't last long, though. Ask the health care provider if your child is considered high-risk. Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is Respiratory Syncytial Virus? Kids with RSV might have cold symptoms, such as: a stuffy or runny nose sore throat mild headache cough fever not eating or drinking well a general ill feeling Sometimes, an RSV infection can lead to: bronchiolitis or pneumonia , especially in premature babies ; infants younger than 1 year old; and kids with diseases that affect the lungs, heart, or immune system dehydration Is Respiratory Syncytial Virus Contagious?
Home Care At home: Make your child as comfortable as possible. Allow time for recovery. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate.
Minus Related Pages. Know the symptoms to look for and how to care for people with RSV. RSV can be dangerous for some infants and young children. You touch, kiss, or shake hands with someone who is infected by the virus. You touch your nose, eyes, or mouth after you have touched something contaminated by the virus, such as a toy or doorknob. The following increase the risk for RSV: Attending day care Being near tobacco smoke Having school-aged brothers or sisters Living in crowded conditions.
Symptoms can vary and differ with age: They usually appear 2 to 8 days after coming in contact with the virus. Older children most often have only mild, cold-like symptoms, such as a barking cough , stuffy nose , or low-grade fever. Infants under age 1 may have more severe symptoms and often have the most trouble breathing: Bluish skin color due to a lack of oxygen cyanosis in more severe cases Breathing difficulty or labored breathing Nasal flaring Rapid breathing tachypnea Shortness of breath Whistling sound wheezing.
Exams and Tests. Antibiotics and bronchodilators are not used to treat RSV. Mild infections go away without treatment. Treatment will include: Supplemental oxygen Moist humidified air Suctioning of nasal secretions Fluids through a vein by IV A breathing machine ventilator may be needed.
Outlook Prognosis. More severe RSV disease may occur in the following infants: Premature infants Infants with chronic lung disease Infants whose immune system does not work well Infants with certain forms of heart disease Rarely, RSV infection can cause death in infants. Children who have had RSV bronchiolitis may be more likely to develop asthma. Possible Complications. When to Contact a Medical Professional. These may include:. RSV infection can spread to the lower respiratory tract, causing pneumonia or bronchiolitis — inflammation of the small airway passages entering the lungs.
Signs and symptoms may include:. Infants are most severely affected by RSV. Signs and symptoms of severe RSV infection in infants include:. Most children and adults recover in one to two weeks, although some might have repeated wheezing.
Severe or life-threatening infection requiring a hospital stay may occur in premature infants or in anyone who has chronic heart or lung problems. Seek immediate medical attention if your child — or anyone at risk of severe RSV infection — has difficulty breathing, a high fever, or a blue color to the skin, particularly on the lips and in the nail beds. Respiratory syncytial virus enters the body through the eyes, nose or mouth.
It spreads easily through the air on infected respiratory droplets. You or your child can become infected if someone with RSV coughs or sneezes near you.
The virus also passes to others through direct contact, such as shaking hands. The virus can live for hours on hard objects such as countertops, crib rails and toys. Touch your mouth, nose or eyes after touching a contaminated object and you're likely to pick up the virus. An infected person is most contagious during the first week or so after infection. But in infants and those with weakened immunity, the virus may continue to spread even after symptoms go away, for up to four weeks.
By age 2, most children will have been infected with respiratory syncytial virus, but they can get infected by RSV more than once. Children who attend child care centers or who have siblings who attend school are at a higher risk of exposure and reinfection.
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